VA Hearing Loss Claim Guide
How VA hearing loss claims work, what the audiogram thresholds actually require for service connection, and why so many approved claims still come in at 0%.
VA hearing loss claims require an audiogram meeting specific puretone threshold and speech recognition criteria. Ratings range from 0% to 100% based on the combined hearing impairment of both ears, with most approved claims landing at 0% or 10%.
Hearing loss claims hinge entirely on the audiogram — it's the single piece of evidence that determines both service connection and rating level. Most ratings come in low, at 0% or 10%, which surprises veterans who expected more given how much their hearing has genuinely changed — but service connection itself still matters, because it opens the door to tinnitus and other ear-related secondary claims.
Proving Service Connection
You need a current diagnosis, evidence of an in-service event or onset, and a medical nexus tying the two. Many veterans miss the third piece.
How It's Rated
Rating Levels
- 0–10% — most common outcome, mild-to-moderate hearing loss
- 20–60% — moderate-to-severe loss affecting both ears
- 100% — profound bilateral loss meeting the top rating criteria
Evidence That Helps
- Service audiograms (DD Form 2215, DD Form 2216) showing hearing thresholds during service
- A current audiogram from a licensed audiologist
- MOS or duty assignment documentation showing noise exposure
- Buddy statements describing observed hearing changes during or shortly after service
Filing hearing loss without also considering tinnitus?
Check the VA Tinnitus Rating GuideRelated Secondary Conditions
- Tinnitus
- Vestibular disorders
Why So Many Approved Claims Still Rate at 0%
VA hearing loss ratings use a specific formula combining puretone thresholds across multiple frequencies with speech discrimination scores — it's a considerably higher bar for compensable rating than what audiologists typically use to describe hearing loss in a clinical setting. Being service-connected at 0% still matters: it establishes the medical link needed to support tinnitus and other related secondary claims, and it's on record if your hearing continues to decline.
Filing Tinnitus Alongside Hearing Loss
Tinnitus and hearing loss frequently develop from the same noise exposure and are almost always worth claiming together. Tinnitus caps at a single 10% rating but is one of the most consistently approved VA conditions, and filing both on the same application streamlines the C&P exam process since a single audiology evaluation typically addresses both conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Conclusion
If you have a current diagnosis and an in-service link, a hearing loss claim is worth filing. Educational only. Not legal advice.
Filing hearing loss without also considering tinnitus?
Check the VA Tinnitus Rating Guide